Fiat Talento 1.6 Ecojet TwinTurbo 125 4×2

What is it?

The Fiat Talento is the replacement for the long-serving Scudo van, which looks a lot like the Nissan NV300, Renault Trafic and our Best Large Trades Van winner, the Vauxhall Vivaro.  Pricing and specifications are yet to be announced, but we took the opportunity to drive a Fiat Talento 1.6 Ecojet 125 4×2 to see what the new Italian challenger is like.

If it looks familiar, then you’ll not be surprised to know that like the Fullback pick-up, a re-badged Mitsubishi L200, the Talento is actually a re-badged Renault Trafic, where it’s built in the same French plant but it widens the offering from Fiat Professional.

What’s hot?

  • It must have been hard for Fiat to make its mark on a design that’s been on sale for around two years from two different manufacturers. However, we have to say the Italians have done a good job under the circumstances. In particular the front air-dam looks particularly impressive with its chunkier design and daytime running lights.
Fiat Talento 1.6 Ecojet

Fiat Talento cab

  • Inside, like the Trafic and Vivaro before it, you get the same car-like driving position, the easy-to-read instruments and the fact that it can be converted into a clever mobile office. The only way you’ll tell you’re in the Fiat is by the badges and different coloured interior plastics.
  • Specification details haven’t been released by Fiat UK yet, but our Talento test van had a sporty looking set of alloys on the outside, with lots of colour-keyed trim. Inside, our van also had the latest touch-screen sat-nav system, which we expect will be an option.
  • Included, like the Renault and Vauxhall before it, is standard stability control to make sure that the Talento is a safe van option.
  • We’re fans of the low, car-like driving position of the Talento, okay it’s nothing new as we’ve seen it before in the Renault and Vauxhall, but it’s easy to get comfortable with. Plus the modern dash has easy-to-read dials, plus fine ergonomics with the majority of switchgear falling easily to hand.
  • Although not quite as keen to drive as the Ford Transit Custom, the Talento is still a talented drive (excuse the pun!). The steering is well-weighted, is reasonably responsive and in corners there’s plenty of grip and bodyroll is kept well under control too.
  • Also available with a choice of 95bhp 1.6-litre Multijet and Ecojet engines, a 120bhp 1.6-litre Ecojet engine, plus Ecojet TwinTurbos with 125bhp (which we drove) and 145bhp outputs. We were impressed with how pokey, torquey and smooth this engine was and well-matched to the slick six-speed manual transmission.

What’s not:

  • The Talento feels ready to work, but most of the plastics are cheap and shiny, even when compared with the Transit Custom and the Ford is still well behind The Volkswagent Transporter T6.
  • The touch screen sat-nav system works well enough, but it’s fiddly to use and the maps are sometimes difficult to read.

The Verdict

Fiat have been clever by choosing the NV300/Trafic/Vivaro as a base for its new van, as like the Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall before it, it is close to class best.

Why? Well the Talento offers impressive refinement, the pokey frugal engine and the same impressive and practical load area.

We wish the Talento well and look forward to learning about UK specifications.

Fiat Talento 1.6 Ecojet TwinTurbo125 4×2

On the road price (ex VAT): £tba
Load length: 1,387mm
Load width (max): 1,662mm
Load height: 1,545mm
Load capacity: 5.2 cu metres
Payload: n/a
GVW: n/a
Towing capacity braked/unbraked: n/a
Engine: 1,6-litre Ecojet twin  turbo diesel
Power/torque: 125bhp/320Nm
Economy (combined): 41mpg
CO2 emissions: 155g/km
Fiat Talento 1.6 Ecojet

Fiat Talento 1.6 Ecojet

 

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